Ellen Persson was cousin to Jenny Henriksson and related to Wilhelm Skoog and his family. She lived with relatives in Stockholm. For a long time she and Jenny had dreamed of America, but without results. Eventually, when the Skoog family came to Sweden and later decided to return, Jenny and Ellen followed. They boarded the Titanic at Southampton as third class passengers. They were travelling to Olaus Rask, 805 East 2d St Iron Mountain, Michigan.

Jenny and Ellen both died in the sinking, Ellen's body, if recovered, was never identified.